4 Ways to Install Kodi on Windows With Ease

The installation of Kodi on Windows is performed in the same manner as you install other applications on your Windows. Many download options are available for you; each one is shown with a fair amount of detail below. You can find official download link from here. This guide will guide you on how to Install Kodi on Windows.

Options Available for Kodi Version

Stable Version

The stable version of Kodi is the most hassle-free version available out there. If you are a general user and want to install Kodi on Windows without having to worry about bugs and detailed working on the application, then this is the go-to version for you.

Nightly version

Kodi is always in a constant state of upgrade and improvement. The Nightly version is the forward progression of the Stable version. The nightly version does not include new features. Its purpose is to fix bugs that have been discovered in the official stable version of Kodi.

Nightly version

The nightly version is available for download. You can install Kodi on Windows with its nightly version if you would like to so. In case you have been affected by a bug that is fixed in the nightly version, then it may be rendered safe for you to use the nightly version.

Development versions or builds

These are the development builds, often called “pre-release” builds; they are what will eventually lead to the final product of the next stable version. THESE VERSIONS COULD BE UNSTABLE and are for users that do not fear bugs or possible crashes and data loss.

They are meant for development of Kodi for testing purposes for further releases. Always backup your current version of Kodi before installing the development build so that you can revert if something goes wrong.

Choosing the Installation Method | Install Kodi on Windows

There are few methods available if you want to install Kodi on Windows platform. Choose the installation method that you can understand easily and are most comfortable with.

Using the Installer

This is the most frequently used method and is exactly like installing any other software on your Windows PC.

Open the download page and click on Installer. (32-bit)

You will be offered the standard choices – Run, Save, Cancel.

Once the download is over, the installation will commence automatically if the Run option has been selected. If you picked the save option then navigate to the downloaded file, double-click on it and the installation would begin.

After the installation begins, follow the steps as directed by the installation software on your screen. You may choose the default options. If you need to change the location of installation or select other specifications, then you may select the custom installation option which asks you for details before each step during the installation of Kodi.

Using the Windows Store

Kodi can be downloaded from the Windows Store as an Application. This method is exactly how you install Kodi on Windows using the “Installer.”

There are no changes or limitations so to speak when using this version of Kodi. The only benefit of downloading an App from the Windows Store is that you won’t have to check for Updates manually while on a WiFi connection. Selecting this option will take you to the Kodi page at the Microsoft Windows Store. Click the large icon of Kodi to commence the installation process.

Using Chocolatey

Chocolatey is a package manager for Windows. It was designed to be a framework for quickly installing applications and tools that you may need. Chocolatey is a unified interface intended to efficiently work with all aspects of managing Windows application software (zip archives, installers, run time binaries, internal and third-party software) using a packaging framework that understands both dependency and versioning requirements.

If you already have Chocolatey installed, you may run the command line installer to install Kodi on Windows.

To install Kodi on Windows, run the following command from the Powershell or Command Line – C:> choco install Kodi.

Run the following command to upgrade Kodi on your Command Line or Powershell – C:> choco upgrade Kodi

Using the Portable Method

If need to have a different version of Kodi or run a basic install for development and testing without removing your current installation of Kodi, you can run Kodi in “portable” mode.

This is a strictly a Windows-only feature. It gives the flexibility to install multiple different versions or multiples of the same version of Kodi. Follow the steps listed below to install additional Kodi setups files on the same computer.

During its installation process, you will be prompted to choose the destination folder, this, however, needs to be changed, either to a folder on your Hard Drive or an external USB Drive. If you install Kodi on your laptop you’ll have to put the Kodi folder in a location where standard users have to write permission. (e.g., not under Program Files) or can run the shortcut with admin privileges (even though you’re logged in with an admin account)

Once the Installation is completed, do not run Kodi until the remainder of these steps has been followed.

Open the folder where you just installed Kodi which is planned to be your “portable” install.

Create a shortcut to kodi.exe. Usually by right-clicking on the kodi.exe file and selecting Send to desktop. (create shortcut)

Right-click on the created shortcut and select “Properties.” You will see a box called Target:, add the switch -p after kodi.exe, i.e., P:\Kodi\kodi.exe -p and save your changes.

Start Kodi now. This will then use the Kodi folder itself as the Home folder, which means scripts, plugins, skins, and user data will be located in the ‘portable_data’ folder inside the Kodi Folder.

Start Using Kodi

After the installation is done, you can immediately start using Kodi. To begin using Kodi, find it under the Windows Start button in a Program Group called Kodi.

You can also use the desktop shortcut if you enabled this option during setup (installation process). Now that Kodi is installed on your Windows PC and running you will want to add some media to the Library.